FANS following Wales to their play-off match in Russia may have to contend with authoritarian police, Russian hooligans, and even the risk of terrorist attack.

FANS following Wales to their play-off match in Russia may have to contend with authoritarian police, Russian hooligans, and even the risk of terrorist attack.

Wales take on Russia at the Lokomotiv Stadium in Mos-cow on November 15, and 3,000 Welsh fans are expected to make the journey for the crunch match.

While Russia may not be as infamous for football hooliganism as England, the country does have a hooligan element, one which is often linked to extremist and nationalist groups.

After Russia's defeat toJapan in the last World Cup there was rioting on the streets of Moscow resulting in the deaths of two men.

Professor Eric Dunning, founder of Leicester University's Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research said he felt that the chance of hooliganism at the vital play-off match was "not small" and warned that it was likely that the Welsh fans would be considered "English" by the Russians.

"They have had for a very long period of time, even in the old Soviet Union, a problem of fans getting boozed up and fighting after football," he said. "It is a knockout competition, like a cup, and they have historically, going right back into the 19th Century, a focus of trouble."

"I would suggest that it needs to be very carefully policed," he said.

"I would advise anybody travelling to respect the country where you are and respect their traditions and their flag and not behave in the provocative way that some English fans have tended to do."

David Martin, head of the Russian Department at the University of Wales, Swansea, also advised fans to be on their best behaviour.

"Until recently you could get arrested in Moscow for looking as if you'd had a drink," he warned.

"Russians have got a reputation for a lot of drinking, but it tends to go on in private flats.

"There may be a problem if there is too much open rowdy drinking - they are not used to public displays of drinking."

But if any Welsh fans are considering trouble Mr Martin warned them against it.

"I would advise them not to think about that," he said. "The police have quite a reputation for cracking down on people who misbehave, so I would be very careful.

"They do have this very strict attitude towards public displays of over-exuberance."

However he said the biggest problems for Welsh visitors were likely to be the practical ones, such as getting a visa and a hotel to stay in.

Those Welsh fans who do travel to Russia will require visas which take around 15 days to process at the Russian Embassy in London.

Another risk that cannot be discounted on a visit to Russia is that of getting caught up in a terrorist attack.

The Foreign Office's advice for travellers warns, "There is a high general threat from domestic terrorism in Russia," and adds, "You should therefore remain vigilant in all public places, including tourist sites, and you should avoid crowded places, particularly where access is not controlled, for example, open-air events, markets, etc."

Preparations are now being made for both the matches, in Moscow and Cardiff.

Chief Inspector Mike Long said, "South Wales Police in Cardiff are working closely with the Football Association of Wales to ensure arrangements for both legs are organised effectively and safely, for fans and players alike, which includes the facilitation of segregation within the grounds.

"We are also liaising with Russian police and the British Embassy in Moscow on travel and accommodation arrangements for Welsh supporters going to the away leg."

Football Association of Wales spokesman Ceri Stennett will be among a group of FAW officials travelling to Moscow next week to prepare for the game.

He said that there would be an official trip to the match in Russia run by Red Arrow Travel and that the FAW would firstly be offering tickets to the match in Russia to fans on its away match database.

"If people go with theofficial group then there will be couriers with that groupto make sure they get fromA to B."